Treatment Components

Regardless of the specific diagnosis or problem, we recognize that your child is a special and unique individual. Therefore, we tailor treatment to each child’s specific needs.

The Child Center’s staff uses a number of treatment components to help your child with the emotional and behavioral concerns that brought them to the Child Center. All plans are grounded in our overall treatment philosophy, which emphasizes accountability, self-responsibility and change.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is a teaching model that gives children and adolescents a “tool kit” of skills they can use to give them more control over their symptoms and to help prevent relapse. The cognitive component of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy helps children reduce symptoms by helping them to identify and then correct the errors in thinking they are making. The behavioral aspect of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy teaches them that their thoughts can influence their feelings and behaviors. These are skills they can use the rest of their lives when dealing with new situations.

Experiential therapy may include art, music and recreation components that assist in exploring communication, cooperation and problem-solving skills in a variety of settings. These therapies provide opportunities for your child to develop self-awareness, critical decision-making skills and increase personal responsibility. Your child will participate in a range of experiential therapy groups during the week.

Family education and family therapy is an important piece of successful treatment outcomes. Your family will be expected to participate in scheduled education and therapy sessions and share your insights and observations throughout your child’s stay.

Led by a master’s level therapist, group therapy focuses on identifying destructive and self-defeating behavior patterns, identifying and expressing feelings appropriately, and the development of healthy decision-making skills and coping strategies. The behavioral specialist may also be present during therapy to provide additional guidance and support

Each child has individual therapy sessions with a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, a therapist and behavioral specialist several times a week. Initially, the goal of these sessions is to establish a healthy therapeutic relationship and to discuss the issues which brought your child to the center. As treatment progresses, the emphasis shifts to providing guidance, support, and interventions during day-to-day conflicts and to prepare for discharge.

Medical Director Cuong Tieu, MD meets with your child and you to complete a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, which includes history, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Subsequently, she meets several times per week with each child to monitor medications and review his or her medical status. During these sessions, Dr. Tieu discusses treatment progress, obstacles, and provides guidance and support.

When it comes to prescribing medication, Dr. Tieu is member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and upholds its stated position that no medication is ever to be used without therapy. You will be consulted in determining if medication is appropriate in conjunction with therapy.

Education services and school advocacy is provided during your child’s stay at the center. All children attend school each weekday. Our education center is staffed by certified teachers. With proper consent, our teachers work directly with your child’s school to assess the educational needs and encourage skill development. Reintegration recommendations are made to your family and school professionals.

Nutrition and health education are provided by a registered dietitian or a registered nurse to reinforce good nutrition and other healthy living patterns.

In addition, children have the responsibility of maintaining their bedrooms and jointly being responsible for care of their living areas. Practicing independent living skills on a daily basis helps create a sense of belonging within the center’s community.